CHARD ladies lost 6-2 to Taunton Vale 4ths in Sedgemoor Division 1 of the West Clubs women's league.

The luminous blues and pinks of Vale’s new pitch weren’t doing much for a few of Chard’s heads as they set themselves up for an early morning pushback.

However, Chard started off strongly against difficult opponents.

Despite valiant efforts from Chard’s defence and keeper Anna Dewick, Chard were no match for some of Vale’s more dominant players as the home side stormed through the first half.

Ruth Butcher managed to kick-start Chard’s game, again scoring a magnificent reverse stick shot which deflected off of the Vale keeper’s hand pad and into the net.

Meanwhile Maya Preston dominated a lot of play through the centre of the pitch, taking on up to four or five Vale players at a time.

Her silky smooth skills were soon rewarded, when after brushing off several poor tackles, she was awarded a short corner.

Butcher again made the scoreboard as she converted the corner with a strike from top D.

Despite Chard’s best efforts they were well beaten by a Vale side who leapfrog them in the table.

Players of the match: Anna Dewick and Maya Preston.

Chard: Hannah McGown (captain), Anna Dewick, Lorraine Szczepanski, Lou Wrightson, Katy Jones, Emma Cridland, Hannah Billing, Maya Preston, Amy Goss, Mel Holmes, Michelle Allen and Ruth Butcher.